#295 The Assignment: Giles Penfound #1

As I walk with your letters and inspirational stories, I'm joined on the show by studio guest Michelle Valberg, the Canadian Geographic Photographer, Nikon ambassador, and international fellow of the Explorers Club. Michelle has just returned from an adventure voyage photographing wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula, navigating icebergs and rough seas to make extraordinary photographs.

Also on the show from the mailbag, stuck in a watery rut in East Africa whilst seeking The Maasai, escaping the clutches of imposter syndrome, March's assignment and mentor Valérie Jardin shares photographic project workflow.

Links to all guests and features will be on the showpage, my sincere thanks to MPB.com who sponsor this show and the Extra Milers without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

On a long-distance bike adventure from London to St. Petersburg, an 'accidental' photographic find led photographer Christopher Herwig to subsequently cover tens of thousands of miles by car, bike, bus and taxi in 14 former Soviet countries, documenting unexpected treasures of modern art; 'Soviet Bus Stops'. This is an unbridled story of passion for a project that has consumed more than two decades of Christopher's life, and today he shares his enthusiasm for photographing the extraordinary ordinary.

Also today, we set a new assignment for the month of March: Hungarian goulash and photographic must-sees in Budapest, a trip to the Hebrides, viral shopping trolly pictures and the international currency of Garibaldi biscuits.

Links to all guests and features will be on the showpage, my sincere thanks to MPB.com who sponsor this show and the Extra Milers without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

Hans Johnson is an international award-winning film and television composer. He records and collects sounds from the cultures and people he spends time with, celebrating diversity and encouraging harmony and togetherness through his music. His videos and pictures often lead the compositions he makes and today, he shares the stories behind his music. Also, philosophical YouTuber Sean Tucker talks about the importance of retreat and recharging to energise your creativity, plus letters into the show share stories of lost and found mojo, and photographic Haiku; poetry and photography as a partnership.

Links to all guests and features will be on the showpage, my sincere thanks to MPB.com who sponsor this show and the Extra Milers without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

This week, join me, Neale James on the show in West Africa and journey with our Photowalk team as we explore The Gambia with those attending this special Photowalk Retreat; Mat Bobby, Lynn Fraser, Michael Assmann and Shannon Coppin, guided by photojournalist Jason Florio and film producer Andy Thompson plus new-found Gambian friends. We walk and learn together about what makes this small, welcoming country known as The Smiling Coast so uniquely special, how a recent political past has left an indelible mark, and how the Gambian people’s resilience has earned a peaceful future ahead. We discuss why some of the country’s youth are making dangerous journeys across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands aboard small pirogue fishing boats; you’ll meet the most incredible students and staff at a school, take shade under the Tree of Life, come within mere inches of the most feared reptile on Earth and our fellow Photowalkers share their thoughts as we adventure during this retreat to West Africa.

Links to all guests and features will be on the showpage, my sincere thanks to MPB.com who sponsor this show and the Extra Milers without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

In 2015, Joshua Coombes, a British hairstylist, took his scissors to the street to cut the hair of the homeless community in a story that is as much about hope and humanity as it is about hair. He's now the architect of the international Do Something for Nothing movement, which our regular contributing photography mentor Valérie Jardin has photographed at work in Paris and New York. Today, both Josh and Valérie share their experiences of a project that is as philanthropic as it is photographic. Also today, the mailbag is back with letters about the scale of Mother Nature, a walk along the Norwegian coastline and what does it actually look like when you stand within an electricity pylon and look up.

Links to all guests and features will be on the showpage, my sincere thanks to MPB.com who sponsor this show and the Extra Milers without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

Retreating home to the shires from another day working in the city of London seventeen years ago, Kevin Mullins announced to his wife, "I'm becoming a wedding photographer." What followed is quite the adventure, including almost quitting on day one of his new life! In the third of three specials interviewing friends in the photographic and creative industries, I talk to Kevin about his leap of faith, his relationship with Fujifilm, social media, staying grounded, slowing down, country music and cupboards of doom - it's an eclectic conversation!

Links to all guests and features will be on the showpage, my sincere thanks to MPB.com who sponsor this show and the Extra Milers without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

It's a very cryptic show title, I grant you, but the question is answered by my good friend, documentary photographer Giles Penfound, a former British army photographer who has found that the story he wishes to dedicate his life to, is now within walking distance of his home. We talk about his life making pictures in areas of conflict, those who mentored him during this time, plus his conflicted mind over some of the images he made and witnessed. Also, we chat about his plans now and for the future. Our conversation for the podcast was made walking the ridge above England's famous Watership Down.

Links to all guests and features will be on the showpage, my sincere thanks to MPB.com who sponsor this show and the Extra Milers without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

In the 'niche' of photography podcasts, there are a handful of names who stand out as pioneers of the genre. One of those is my guest today, Jeffery Saddoris, a multi-disciplinary audio and visual artist based in Washington DC. He paints, he writes, and for his podcasting, he crafts conversations with people who move and inspire him. This launches three weeks of special personal conversations with creative friends of mine and I'm delighted Jeffery is launching those. I suspect I'll talk with him again for an edition about the art of podcasting, though today I concentrate on the why of his art and photography, his most intimate of photographic moments and how painting is the creative glue that 'leaves something to account for his time on this Earth.'

Also today, Mali Davies, in his monthly Jibba Jabba feature, reveals what happened on Fighting Friday, the 'event' he photographed just prior to Christmas.

Links to all guests and features will be on the showpage, my sincere thanks to MPB.com who sponsor this show and the Extra Milers without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

Canadian explorer, photographer, filmmaker and international speaker Jill Heinerth joins me today for a bumper edition of The Photowalk podcast. We talk about the medical importance of our oceans, cave diving, incredible creatures beneath the waves, swimming with Polar bears and the story of a sub-marine diving mission into and iceberg. Also today, the why of making sketchbook pictures, the nostalgia of vintage prints, plus mentor and street photographer Valérie Jardin returns to launch this year's monthly Visual Stories features, which in 2024 is all about photographic feature making, starting with ONE CENTURY.

Links to all guests and features will be on the showpage, my sincere thanks to MPB.com who sponsor this show and the Extra Milers without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.

Today's guest is the celebrated Canadian wildlife photographer Michelle Valberg, who shares stories of her photographic adventures at the two poles and the incredible animals she observes as she creates emotional imagery that has the power to make viewers feel.

From the mailbag on today's show, how introversion affects what you photograph, favourite places in the world to MAKE those pictures and how being devoured by forest has you feel, making your own book or zine in 2024, how your experiences as a child can influence your photography as an adult plus there is news of a second retreat week in Scotland. It is the first Friday of the month, so it’s assignment week, and this year, all our challenges are one-word photographic assignments.

Links to all guests and features will be on the showpage, my sincere thanks to MPB.com who sponsor this show and the Extra Milers without whom we wouldn't be walking each week. WHY: A Sketchbook of Life is available here.